In a market economy, prices are determined by the interaction of consumers and producers in markets. There are three basic types of markets: Goods and Services, Productive Resources, Financial Capital.
The prices that are determined in these markets serve as a guide to economic activity. For example, if the relative price of a certain good is high, this means that there is a potential of greater profits.
Entrepreneurs have an incentive to divert resources to the production of that good. Eventually, as supplies of the good increase, the price falls, signaling that productive resources should be diverted to the production of other goods or services.
It is important to note that in a market economy this "undirected" economic activity, based on changing prices, produces a high level of efficiency. This is very different from centrally planned economies, where the attempts of government bureaucracies to guide economic activity typically result in much inefficiency.
In a market economy, many individuals and firms play the role of middlemen. A middleman, such as a car dealer or stockbroker, helps to bring buyer and seller together. Although there is a fee for service, the middleman greatly reduces the time and effort it takes for buyers and sellers to get together to make a transaction.
Do the lesson on Markets in the very practical Pint-Size Economics curriculum.
On the board, list different examples of people buying and selling goods and services. Circle situations where buyers and sellers don’t necessarily meet face to face (stock market, Internet, phone, etc.)
Identify "sights and symbols" of market activity. Examples include McDonald’s golden arches, Nike "swoosh," advertising jingles, etc.
Discuss this statement: "In a market you always have buyers and sellers." (True – buyers demand goods and services. Sellers supply goods and services.)
Cut out advertisements from newspapers representing a variety of stores in your community. Make a chart comparing the prices of goods and services from different stores. Discuss why these prices vary.
Give examples of the market for human resources (labor). (any time people seeking work interact with employers looking for workers) Discuss the importance of having a resume. Have students create their own resumes. Or have students cut out classified ads in the Help Wanted section. Analyze the education and skill requirements of different jobs.
Discuss the stock market. Explain the purpose of a stock market. (channels funds from savers to businesses/investors). Have students look up companies and prices on the stock page of their newspapers or on the Internet. Upper elementary students may want to participate in a stock market simulation, such as the Stock Market Game (See www.stockmarketgame.org).
Have students give examples of middlemen - individuals and firms who help bring buyers and sellers together in a market. (newspapers and classified ads, auto salespeople, stockbrokers, store owners, etc.)
Discuss why middlemen help lower costs to consumers. (At first it appears not to be so since we must pay the middlemen a fee for their services. But they drastically reduce the cost of getting buyers and sellers together. Imagine the difficulty of trying to buy stocks without some sort of middleman, either a personal broker, Internet service, etc.)
LITERATURE
CONNECTION
You can
use the literature books below to help teach about Markets. Click on the book cover or the title below
to obtain information on the book as well as guided questions you
can use with your students. Some books are no longer available
from the publishers, but we still include title information and
Lessons as you might have them in your school or public library or
possibly in your classrooms.
